SOLD in the first 3 days it was listed ($2000 for the full suite).

The listing price of $595 is for the 6 dining only- the table is priced SEPARATELY.

This suite is being sold by a regular iNVISeDGE seller in North Lakes, BRISBANE.

Provenance and Background Info

(Written in 2022)

A set of 6 wool-berber dining chairs made by Neil Grice Furniture of Brisbane in the late-1970’s or early 1980’s. Neil Grice Furniture operated their workshop in Milton and was some of the most exclusive furniture sold in Brisbane in the 70’s and 80’s. The best dining chairs of today fetch $1200 each- often a lot more. The construction quality here is A1. The design has an intriguing look- it’s simple but also stylish- unornate and bold. It’s the quality here that screams out at you. This suite was made during a period when furniture makers focussed less on showy designs and turned to the task at hand- making honest, quality furniture that would stand the test of time. And that it has- just look at this suite after over 40 years!

These chairs are as solid as rock- nothing is going to happen to them in a hurry. I’d say you’d have to throw them over a balcony for them to break! The high-back is very unusual in dining chairs and makes the design extra comfortable. The soft cushioning and fabric gives extra luxuriousness to the comfort too. The higher-back coupled with the segmented cushioning is unique to Grice’s work. The segmenting gives an extra designer edge- these seats look similar to Eames’ work. I feel that the segmenting really makes this design because it’s so timeless- many designs like this from the 1970’s have buttons which I feel looks a bit “daggy”, “busy” and dates the look. I like the wool berber too- this upholstery is nice and neutral in colour plus soft and comfy. Wool is also very practical to use on furniture. It may be a fabric but it’s quite hardy. Spills tend to just bead on top and it doesn’t generally take on dirt either. It’s easy to keep looking good and is rarely used anymore because it’s so expensive. Here’s a bit of luxury from the past without the price tag.

One of these suites we sold some time back came with the original receipt. The full suite (6 chairs and the table) sold for $2600 back in 1981. With inflation, $2600 is worth $8500 in 2022. This gives irrefutable evidence of the investment appeal on offer here. I’d say it’d cost $10,000+ to get the same full suite made in Australia these days.

These Neil Grice dining chairs are faultless in every way and symbolise that when something has been done well it will live on. In a throw-away society, investing in something like this will stand the test of time and evade landfill for many more years yet (maybe forever ?). If abused these chairs may need reupholstery down the track- I can’t see anything ever happening to the frames though. There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home and help protect our environment.

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